HI, in a bit of a situation here where we will be passing up the rental of a wonderful apartment because of the soul fact that one bedroom is a loft that we would need to put in temp soundproof walls for roomate. I had the idea of making a wood frame (box and X in the middle) measured out from floor to ceiling then fasten styrofoam insulation boards on each other side (like drywall). Then on the inside for even more sound proofing we would either stuff with installation or expanding foam. heck maybe even newspaper or egg crates.

Tough part will be some sort of door. I thought as long as were going why not make a door out esurance of the same frame foam idea. just attach hinges.

from there we would either paint,walpaper or cover with something to look better.

Need any advise we could get because as I mentioned we would completely pass the great place up if we didn't have some sort of assurance this idea could work.

any thought would be greatly appreciated.

below is a photo of the loft. as you can see have the fortune of having the railing which would be our anchor point.

Forget it. That looks like a nice place - no landlord is going to let you do the hack job to it that you're talking about.

itmutt

09-27-2012 07:34 AM

well this plan would do no damage. no screws,holes,glue. and i don't expect it to to kil the look. Im assuming covering the foam with either wallpaper or paint or stabled canvas would work. and to clarify cause i reread. the egg crates and foam spray would be inside the frame.

GBrackins

09-27-2012 09:34 AM

not knowing where you are located or your building code I have to agree with md2, I don't see it happening without a lot more information.

A bedroom must have a Emergency Escape and Rescue Opening for emergency personnel to enter the space from the exterior of the dwelling. There are specific code requirements such as when the window is opened it must provide a minimum clear opening height of 24" and a minimum clear opening width of 20" and must be a minimum of 5.7 square feet. A bedroom must contain a hard wired smoke detector. It must contain no less than 70 square feet and the least dimension within that space can be 7-feet. I doubt the current loft space is classified as a bedroom by the town. Apartments have specific requirements that must be met.

Allowing substandard un-permited construction in the apartment would open the landlord up to liability in the event of a fire or other emergency situation.

I would talk with the landlord first about what you are proposing. I do not think they would agree, but I could be wrong. There would be damage done to the existing area from the construction of a wall, if nothing else from attachment of the wall to the hardwood floor, other walls, and ceiling. It could be removed in the future and everything repaired, but it costs money to do this. Why would I as a landlord do this work unless I could get a greater return on my investment? I had a landlord once allow me to construct a deck onto their building for the apartment I was renting. They bought the materials I did the work. Of course I was experienced at design and construction and they got a $16,000 deck for about $5,000 in materials. Of course I could not argue when they upped my rent at renewal time because now I had a deck.

Spray foam must be protected by either drywall board or plywood. Foam burns and produces toxic by-products so the code requires it to be protected.

Talk with your landlord and see what they say.

Good luck!

notmrjohn

09-27-2012 09:55 AM

Aside from all legal, code, and landlord issues. No big problem in building, installing, temporary, non damaging, partition. No need for any unorthodox materials you mentioned. Example, just use regular pre-hung door. No extraordinary sound proofing needed. Room mate gonna be setting off dynamite in there?
Check with land lord, then get back to us.